Originally posted by billhike:Even though there was a St. Cosme Gigondas in the top 10 last year, I wouldn't be shocked if one of them landed a 1-5 spot in this year's list. Huge scores for the whole lineup. I have some of them on order.

Landed at #2

"The hardest thing to attain ... is the appreciation of difference without insisting on superiority" George Saintsbury

Originally posted by billhike:Even though there was a St. Cosme Gigondas in the top 10 last year, I wouldn't be shocked if one of them landed a 1-5 spot in this year's list. Huge scores for the whole lineup. I have some of them on order.

How did you know, you shameless, point-chasing whore?

"Grape works as a soda - sort of as a gum. I wonder why it doesn't work as a pie. Grape pie? There's no grape pie." - Larry David

I don't think #1 is out for a few days. I'm not sure, but I think this is a conjectured numero uno.

Don't get me wrong. I like Seghesio zins, I just don't think it would out perform others for WOTY in a blind tasting (based on quality, price, production or other things taken into consideration for this distiction).

Tell you what PH: make a trip to Toronto and we can have a wine or two and discuss this in person. Might even have a zin or two with some northern Rhones and Bordeaux thrown in for good measure.

Originally posted by DoktaP:I don't think #1 is out for a few days. I'm not sure, but I think this is a conjectured numero uno.

Ah.....from the tone of the posts I thought it was a fait accompli....

Don't get me wrong. I like Seghesio zins....

The last Zin I had was from Seghesio, and it was good. I was eating ribs with BBQ sauce at the time, though. I have a soft spot for Zinfandel, as it was probably my "gateway" red varietal years ago. A soft spot and a preference are two vastly different things at this stage of my life.

Tell you what PH: make a trip to Toronto and we can have a wine or two and discuss this in person. Might even have a zin or two with some northern Rhones and Bordeaux thrown in for good measure.

I really do need to get to Toronto soon. It seems my north of the border excursions have taken me further east these past few trips. When we see each other next, I'm thinking that you don't need to pull out any Zinfandels unless you're really in the mood. I will be unable to reciprocate anyway, as I have exactly zero in my cellar! Now, as far as Rhone and BDX......

None of the #2-6 wines are US wines, and I just can't see a US publication not putting a US wine in the top 5 (last time they did was 2008). So I'm guessing it will be a US wine, perhaps Shafer Relentless - showing some love to Rhone Rangers.

Originally posted by GoBlue2002:None of the #2-6 wines are US wines, and I just can't see a US publication not putting a US wine in the top 5 (last time they did was 2008). So I'm guessing it will be a US wine, perhaps Shafer Relentless - showing some love to Rhone Rangers.

Glad to see Shafer get the #1 spot. Not a wine I’m interested at all so I don’t have to worry about a wine I do like getting priced up!

I thought the overall list has better wines to my taste than in previous years, but besides highlighted that Malbec can do really great things at the high-end, I don’t see a lot of “x-factor” type wines on the list. I guess a Rhone Ranger as #1 might be news to the general public, but Shafer is not exactly an undiscovered producer.

Wine Spectator tends to follow a fairly set pattern for their top wines. I had http://forums.winespectator.co...757031832#9757031832 this post last week stating that the WOTY has been a 95+ pt, 950+ case, $80 or less wine for the last 5 years. Running that screen for this year's group gave 18 wines. 4 of those ended up in the top 5 of 2012. So if you want to turn a quick buck, use that screen for next year :-)Coincidentally, the only top 10 wine I've tasted and/or own is the Shafer Relentless, which I actually wouldn't buy again. Good, but not my style. I do have a bottle to try in a few years though.